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Children's Champion 'not surprised' by Ofsted findings

Kerry Sharpe released her own report in July

The Children's Champion says she isn't surprised by findings made in a report about the Island's children's social care services. 

Released this week, the Ofsted Report found that services for children in care need ‘significant improvement’ – in one case a child reported selling sex in return for drugs.

'While some exploitation assessments are being undertaken to help consider risk relating to criminal or sexual exploitation, these are not sufficiently embedded within social work practice.' - Ofsted

In July this year Kerry Sharpe released her own report on the care system and highlighted concerns around foster care, accommodation for care leavers, a lack of provision for respite care and concerns that children were not as emotionally secure as their peers. 

'When I submitted the draft on this report back in May/June to government, I think I ruffled a few feathers but I stand by everything that's in that report' - Kerry Sharpe, Children's Champion

After reading the Ofsted report that was released last week, Ms Sharpe told Manx Radio the findings echoed her own:

You can hear more from the Children's Champion in our latest Newscast, available HERE or wherever you get your podcasts.

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